Members with a thermal break

ABSTRACT

Members formed from thermally conductive components which have a gap therebetween. The gap is bridged and the conductive components integrated into a composite member by a reinforced polymer. This provides a thermal break which inhibits the flow of heat between the conductive components of the member. This construction also blocks the transfer of sound and other vibrations between the conductive components of the member. The construction also mitigates the formation of condensation on an artifact fixed to one of the components.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to novel, improved members withfeatures which inhibit the transfer of heat from one edge of the memberto another. These features also inhibit the transmission of sound andother vibrations and mitigate the formation of condensate.

[0002] One important application of the principles of the presentinvention is found in the provision of heat and vibration transferresistant structural members for steel framed buildings, and whatfollows will be devoted primarily to that application of the invention.It is to be understood that this is being done for the sake of clarityand convenience and is not intended to limit the scope of the appendedclaims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Buildings and other structures with exterior walls, ceilings,floors, and/or roofs framed from steel components are ubiquitous becauseof the superior physical properties of steel vis-a-vis wood, concrete,and other building materials and because steel components commonly provemore economical because less material is used. One particularlysignificant disadvantage of such structural members is that theytransfer heat from the interior of the building in which they are foundto its exterior and in the opposite direction. Sound and othervibrations are transferred with equal facility.

[0004] This minimally inhibited transfer of heat is deleterious becauseit can result in the spreading of fire. And, in less severe instances,the transfer of heat through the steel members can result in anexpensive loss of heat from the building in which they are found and/orcan increase air conditioning costs by allowing the transfer of heatfrom the ambient surroundings to the interior of a building.

[0005] Different approaches to the problems dealt with in the precedingparagraphs have been proposed if not actually used. One is to configurea building component, in this case a stud, such that stagnant airpockets are formed between the exterior/interior edges of the stud andinner/outer panels covering the pocket-defining surfaces of thecomponent. The just-described solution to the thermal isolation problemis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,057 issued Nov. 25, 1980.

[0006] The Executive Summary of the 1999 North American Steel FramingAlliance Business Plan (page 4A) suggests, in the abstract, the use of“greater thicknesses of cavity/wall insulation and/or exterior rigidboard insulation to provide a thermal break.” On page 9A of theExecutive Summary, the authors recognize that there is a need forimproved thermal performance. This need persists to the present day.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0007] A novel, cost effective solution to the heat transfer problem hasnow been discovered and is disclosed herein. Specifically, membersembodying the principles of the present invention are composed of two(or more) components with a gap tberebetween. This gap is spanned, andthe components of the member joined into a heat transfer resistantcomposite, with a thermally insulating, high strength, reinforcedpolymer. This inhibits the transfer of heat (or sound or othervibrations) from one component of the member to another. The result is astructural member which is strong and cost effective and whichsatisfactorily inhibits the transfer of heat and audible (and other)vibrations.

[0008] The reinforced, polymeric material may be bonded to the metallicelements of the structural member in any desired manner. For example,there are a number of sheet type adhesives which can be used for thatpurpose.

[0009] Other advantages of a member embodying the principles of thepresent invention are:

[0010] The formation of condensate on artifacts attached to the membersis inhibited.

[0011] The members can be spaced further apart in a wall, ceiling, roof,etc. than comparably employed members fabricated from a material such aswood (typically 24 ins. on center versus 16 ins. on center for wallstuds, and 48 ins. versus 24 ins. on center for roof trusses);

[0012] Structural members as disclosed herein can be easily designed byconversion and extrapolation of the dimensions, shapes and otherproperties of structural members fabricated from materials such as wood;

[0013] In many instances involving roof trusses, the commonly employedplywood underlayment is not required;

[0014] The composite structural members are non-flammable when a fireretardant is employed, are in large part made of recyclable materials(such as steel), and do not give off toxic fumes when heated;

[0015] All radiuses are easily formed;

[0016] The herein disclosed members are lighter and stronger than manymembers of other materials and configurations; and they have superiorresistance to seismic disturbances and to high winds, of whichhurricanes are one example; Also, they are resistant to condensation.

[0017] Such members don't shrink, rot, warp, creep, split, bow, buckle,twist, or creak under load; and they are immune to attacks by ants andother insects and vermin.

[0018] Because of the just-described properties, buildings employingthese structural members typically may not require servicing to correctstructural defects, and the cost of insurance may be lower.

[0019] Members embodying the principles of the present invention have ahigh degree of integrity, and construction of structures such asbuildings is facilitated by such members;

[0020] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that itsprinciples may easily be employed in products other than buildingcomponents—for example, in turbine engine inlet filters.

[0021] Another advantage of the present invention is that batts andother preformed units of insulation can be used instead of theubiquitous foamed and blown insulation although a foam or blowninsulation can be employed if one so desires.

[0022] The objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appendedclaims and from the accompanying drawings taken in conjunction with theaccompanying description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective of a building framework; theframework has steel sills, studs, stud cap, ceiling joists, and rafters,all embodying the principles of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a structural member which embodiesthe principles of the present invention and which can be employed in theframework of FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the structural member shown inFIG. 2.

[0026]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the FIGS. 2 and 3 structural member;

[0027] FIGS. 5-8 (and FIG. 4) illustrate different configurations ofholes that may be provided in the member's components to reduce theweight of the member, to provide a way in which thermal insulationelements or opposite sides of the webs may be brought into contact tobond the two components together, to impede the transfer of heat andvibrations from one member component to another; and to impede thecondensation of moisture;

[0028]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the inventionin which a thermal plug is employed to provide a thermal break betweentwo components of a member;

[0029]FIG. 10 is a section through the member depicted in FIG. 9;

[0030]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of thepresent invention; in this embodiment a fiber-reinforced thermal breakwith reinforcing strands oriented at right angles to the flow of thermalenergy is employed to provide a thermal break between two elements of astructural member in accord with the principles of the presentinvention; this figure also shows an asymmetric, often preferredlocation of the thermal break between inner and outer edges of themember;

[0031]FIG. 12 is a section through the member of FIG. 11; this figureshows more clearly a preferred orientation of the reinforcing strands(or rovings) in a plug located in the gap between first and secondcomponents of the member;

[0032]FIG. 13 is a plan view of a structural member embodying theprinciples of the invention which is aperatured to accommodate pipes,electrical conduits, and the like;

[0033]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the FIG. 13 component;

[0034]FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a line for manufacturing a performof a structural member embodying the principles of the presentinvention; and

[0035]FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a line for converting a performsuch as the one outputted by the FIG. 15 manufacturing line to astructural member of specific configuration, the structural membersoutputted from the FIG. 16 manufacturing line embody the principles ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The discussion which follows deals with multiple embodiments ofthe invention. To the extent that components of these embodiments arealike, they will be identified by the same reference characters.

[0037] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a steel buildingframework 20. This framework is made up of a sill 22, vertical studs 24,and a top plate 26, or cap, supporting ceiling joists 28 and rafters 30.Framework components 22, 24, 26, and 30 embody, and are constructed inaccord with, the principles of the present invention; and rafters 28 maybe so constructed as to embody those principles.

[0038] A representative one of the structural components depicted inFIG. 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and identified by referencecharacter 32. Structural member 32 has two, substantially identical,mirror image-related, thermally conductive, vibration transmitting(typically steel) components 34 and 36 with a gap 38 therebetween. Athird, insulating component 39 spans this gap, integrating thecomponents 34 and 36 into an integral structure and providing a thermalbreak between components 34 and 36. This break minimizes the flow ofheat between components 34 and 36. It also attenuates sound and othervibrations and makes panels or other artifacts attached to structuralnumber 32 less susceptible to condensation.

[0039] As indicated above, the configuration and other characteristicsof the two structural number components 34 and 36 are essentiallyidentical. Therefore, in the ensuing description of those components,common features will be for the most part identified by the samereference characters with the suffixes L and capitol R being employed toidentify the left-hand and right-hand components 34 and 36 of structuralmember 32 with that member oriented as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the components 34 and 36 has aflat, web forming segment 40, an integral flange segment 42 oriented atright angles to element 40, and an also integral, inturned lip 44extending at right angles from the exposed edge 46 of flange 42.

[0041] The insulating component 39 of structural member 32 is fabricatedfrom two separate layers (or pads) 48 and 50 of an insulating material.In the manufacture of a representative structural member 32, theseelements are fused together into a single entity (component 39) which islocated in the gap 38 between the web-forming segments 40L and 40R ofcomponents 34 and 36 and laps onto the web-forming elements 40L and 40Rof components 34 and 36.

[0042] At the present time, the preferred insulating material isTWINTEX, a material woven from multistrand rovings of a polypropyleneand glass fibers. TWINTEX is available from Vetrotex America, Maumee,Ohio.

[0043] TWINTEX is an effective thermal insulator. It also has theadvantage of being stronger than steel. Therefore, the strength of astructural member is not reduced by using that material to bridge thegap between adjacent components of that member. The TWINTEX material is30 to 40 percent polypropylene and 70 to 60 percent fiberglassreinforcement.

[0044] The reinforcing glass fibers of the composite materials describedabove conduct heat to some extent. Consequently, it may be advantageousto fill the gap between the two components of a structural member asdisclosed herein with a material which des not contain glass or otherthermally conductive components. Urethane foams useful for this purposeare available from a variety of manufacturers. Such a strip is employedin structural member 32. This strip is shown in FIG. 4 and identified byreference character 52.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, holes (identified by reference character 56)maybe be punched or otherwise formed in the apposite segments 40L and40R of the two components 34 and 36 of structural member 32. In themanufacture of the structural member, components 34 and 36 and thethermal insulation component 39 are heated to a temperature at which thepolymeric constituent of the break-providing, thermal barrier material39 flows in a manner akin to that of a high viscosity fluid into theaperture 56 along with the fibers embedded in that constituent of theinsulating material. This creates multiple bonds between the two layers48 and 50 of the fiber reinforced, thermoplastic material shown in FIG.4, anchoring the two layers to each other and to the component segments40L and 40R. These holes may be round (FIG. 4), elliptical (referencecharacter 62 in FIG. 5) or, in many instances, may more effectively beof a polygonal configuration such as those square holes identified byreference character 64 in FIG. 6 and the triangular holes identified byreference 66 in FIG. 7. Another effective hole shape is the racewayconfiguration identified by reference character 68 in FIG. 8. Otherconfigurations may of course be employed.

[0046] Continuing with the drawings, FIGS. 9 and 10 depict, infragmentary form, an installation 73 in which exterior and interiorpanels 74 and 75 are attached to opposite edges of a structural member77 embodying the principles of the present invention. The arrangementshown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has the advantage that the spaces such as 78Land 78R between exterior and interior panels 74 and 75 can be filledwith batts and other modules of insulation identified by referencecharacters 79-1 and 79-2 in FIG. 10. Of course, these spaces can insteadbe filled by blowing the insulation into spaces such as 78 and 79 or byfoaming the insulation in those spaces, etc.

[0047] Referring still to FIG. 10, another advantage of the structuralmembers disclosed herein is that, when temperatures fall, the transferof heat from interior panel 74 to exterior panel 75 is significantlyimpeded. The result is that, under many, if not all conditions, thecondensation of moisture (or sweating) on interior panel 74 issignificantly reduced if not entirely eliminated.

[0048] Irrespective of the shape of the openings, they are preferablyarranged in two staggered rows to reduce the transfer of thermal energyfrom one structural member component to another. This lengthens thepaths along which thermal energy and vibrations are conducted,decreasing the ability of the structural member components in which theanchoring holes are formed to transfer thermal energy and vibrations.

[0049]FIGS. 11 and 12 depict a structural member 80 which embodies theprinciples of the present invention and in which the transfer of heatfrom one to the other of the two structural member components 34 and 36is inhibited by orienting the parallel strands 81 of insulating material82 in the gap 38 between the apposite edges 39L and 39R of structuralcomponent segments 40L and 40R at right angles to the longitudinal axis83 of structural member 80. As discussed above, the transfer of thermalenergy from one to the other of the structural member components 34 and36 spanwise of the element 81 is significantly slower than the transferof heat lengthwise of those elements. Therefore, the FIGS. 11 and 12strand orientation is preferred for insulating materials which have only(or a considerable portion) parallel strands.

[0050] Structural member 80 also has layers (or on coatings) 87 and 88of fire retardant on the exposed faces 89 and 90 of thermal barriercomponent 82. A fire retardant used when the polymeric material of theinsulation material is not flame proof.

[0051] As discussed above, superior performance can often be obtained bylocating the thermal break-providing gap and insulation closer to anexterior wall end of the structural member than the inner wall. Astructural member of the character just described is the structuralmember 80 illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The thermal break gap 84 ofstructural member 80 is much nearer to the exterior wall supporting face85 of structural member component 34 than it is to interior wallsupporting face 86 of structural member 36.

[0052] As discussed above, it is conventional for pipes, electricalconduits, pipes, and the like to be routed through the structuralmembers of a building's framework. A structural member with an openingprovided for this purpose is depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14 and identifiedby reference character 92. As is best shown in FIG. 14, the hole 94provided for the purposes just described is formed in any convenientfashion through the structural member components 34 and 36 and thethird, thermal break-providing component 39 of structural member 32 ofFIG. 10. As best shown in FIG. 14 a bushing 95 having a cylindricalbarrel 96 and an integral, radially extending lip or flange 97 mayoptionally be installed in the opening 94 with the flange 97 of thebushing locating the bushing in the arrow 98 direction relative to thethermal break-providing component 39 of the structural member. Thisbushing adds to the structural member strength that may be lost byforming the necessarily fairly large hole in the structural member.Also, the insert isolates elements threaded through and in the hole fromthe usually rough edges of the hole, thereby protecting such elementsfrom damage.

[0053] Referring still to the drawings, FIGS. 15 and 16 depict twomanufacturing lines which may be employed in conjunction to fabricatestructural members of the character described above. These manufacturinglines are respectively identified by reference character 100 (FIG. 15)and reference character 102 (FIG. 16)

[0054] In manufacturing line 100 a strip of metal 104 (steel in theabove-discussed exemplary application of the invention) is fed from anunwind roll 105 to a work station identified generally by referencecharacter 106. Strips 108 and 110 of TWINTEX or other selectedinsulating material are fed from unwind rolls 112 and 114 past idlerrolls 116 and 118 to work station 106 on opposite sides of steel strip104. At the same time, an adhesive film is fed through the work station106 on both the top and bottom sides of strip 104 and between that stripand thermal insulation strip 108 and between steel strip 104 and thermalinsulation strip 110.

[0055] For the sake of clarity, only one of the adhesive film supplyarrangements is shown. This supply arrangement comprises unwind roll 119and idle-roll 120; and the strip of adhesive is identified by referencecharacter 121.

[0056] At the upstream end of work station 106, a sandwich 122 of twothermal insulation strips 108 and 110, two adhesive films, and steelstrip 104 is created, This sandwich is fed in the arrow 123 directionfirst to a belt type heating unit 124 and then to a chilling unit 126 ofsimilar construction. In heating unit 124, the adhesive films (only oneof which is depicted) are heated to a temperature high enough for theadhesive to bond the strips of thermal insulation 108 and 110 to theopposite sides of steel strip 104.

[0057] At the same time, the polymeric matrix of the thermal insulationstrips softens and is displaced along with its complement of reinforcingfibers into the gap between the two components 34 and 36 of thestructural element 32 as shown in FIG. 3. The result is a H-section,thermal break-providing body of insulation. The edge segment ofstructural member element 40L is captured (or encapsulated) by two legs130 and 132 of the insulating material. The other two legs 134 and 136of the insulating material encapsulate complementary structuralcomponent element 40R, and the insulation material in the bar 134 of theH fills the gap 38 between the two structural component elements 40L and40R (See FIG. 3).

[0058] The sandwich 122 of bonded together insulating and steel members104, 108, and 110 (See FIG. 15) then passes to cooling unit 126. Here,the polymeric matrix of the fused together layers of steel and thermalinsulating material is cooled to solidify and permanently bond theinsulating layers to the metallic substrate. From the cooling unit thesandwich 122 of now bonded together layers is fed in the directionindicated by arrow 123 to a rewind roll 143 where the sandwich is woundon a mandrel 144.

[0059] Optionally as shown in FIG. 15, the sandwich 122 of fusedtogether layers may be fed to a work station 146 before sandwich iswound on rewind roll 144. At station 146, nozzles 148 and 150 spray afire retardant such as antimony trioxide on the two, exposed surfaces ofthe sandwich.

[0060] Alternatively, the fire retardant can be in strip form asindicated by reference character 151 and 152 in FIG. 15. Strips 151 and152 are supplied from unwind rolls 153 and 154 in a work station 155.Press rolls 156 and 157 securely bond the fire retardant strips tosandwich 122.

[0061] An alternative to the above-discussed fire retardant coating isto employ an insulation tape or the like in which the fire retardant isincorporated in the insulating material. Indeed, there may beapplications in which a combination of incorporated fire retardant and afire retardant coating can be employed to advantage.

[0062] For some applications, the application of the thermal insulationto only one side of the structural member components may be sufficient.Preforms for such members can be manufactured on a line as illustratedin FIG. 15 with the bottom side thermal insulation unwind roll 114 andthe companion adhesive unwind roll (not shown) inactivated or deleted.

[0063] As discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 11 and 12, it isgenerally preferred that the thermal break between components making upa structural member embodying the principles of the present invention benearer an exterior wall segment of the structural member than it is tothe interior wall defining segment of the structural member. The FIG. 15manufacturing line can be used where the thermal break gap (for example,gap 38 in FIG. 3) is symmetrically located with respect to the span ofthe structural component 32. However, if the gap 38 is asymmetricallylocated (FIGS. 11 and 12) the location of the thermal insulation layers(reference character 156 in FIG. 3) will cause the sandwich of thermalinsulation layers and steel substrate to run off of the mandrel ofrewind roll 144 when the sandwich is rewound.

[0064] Next, sandwich 162 is split into structural member blanks orperforms 172, 174, and 176 by the knives 178 and 180 of work station182. The performs are each wound on a roll such as 184, unwound fromthat roll, formed to shape in work station 186 and cut to length by theknife 188 of work station 190.

[0065] In this circumstance, the manufacturing line 102 shown in FIG. 16may advantageously be used to avoid the runoff problem. In thisinstance, an unwind roll 160 corresponding to the rewind roll 144 ofmanufacturing line 100 is employed. The thermal insulation/steelsubstrate sandwich 162 wound on roll 160 is fabricated in essentiallythe same manner as sandwich 122 (FIG. 15) except that the insulatingmaterial is so laid down as to span gaps (not shown) between substratestrips 164 and 166, substrate strips 166, and 168, and substrate strips168 and 170, of the sandwich or perform 162. This balances the sandwich162, keeping it from running off of unwind roll 160 as might happen inthe case of a single, sandwich 122 with an asymmetrically located gap.

[0066] The reader will be aware that there are many applications inwhich the principles of the present may be employed to advantage inaddition to those named above. For example, the material from which thestructural member core is formed need not be steel, but may instead bebrass, copper, or another alloy or metal or a non-metallic material, andthe thermal barrier may be formed from a material other than the fiberreinforced polymeric material and polyurethane foam identified above.Therefore, the presented embodiments of the invention are to beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, thescope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims ratherthan by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within themeaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended tobe embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A member comprising: first and second componentsdisposed in spaced apart relationship with a gap therebetween; and athird component which spans said gap and is bonded to said first andsecond components; said first and second components each beingfabricated of a thermally conductive material; said third componentcomprising a rigid, high strength material which has low heat andvibration transmitting coefficients; and the material spanning said gapbeing of sufficient width to inhibit the flow of heat from one to theother of the first and second components.
 2. A member as defined inclaim 1 in which the third component comprises a reinforced polymer. 3.A member as defined in claim 2 in which the polymer is a propylene.
 4. Amember as defined in claim 3 wherein the polypropylene is one which willso change character upon being heated as to increase the thermalresistance offered by the third component.
 5. A member as defined inclaim 1 which is coated on at least one side with a fire retardant.
 6. Amember as defined in claim 1 in which the reinforced polymer isadhesively bonded to the first and second components of the member.
 7. Amember as defined in claim 1 in which apertures are used in at least oneof the first and second components to lighten the member and to furtherinhibit the transfer of heat and vibrations from one to the other of thestructural member components.
 8. A member as defined in claim 1 in whichthe reinforced polymer fills the gap between the first and secondcomponents of the structural member and overlies complementary first andsecond surfaces of those components.
 9. A member as defined in claim 1in which the assemblage of first and second members and thermalinsulation has an outer side wall and an inner side wall and in whichthe gap between the first and second members is located closer to theouter side wall than it is to the inner side wall.
 10. The combinationof a member as defined in claim 1 and an artifact fixed to a side walldefined by one of the first and second member components.
 11. Acombination as defined in claim 10 in which the first and secondcomponents of the member define a second wall, wherein a second artifactis fixed to said second wall with a space between said artifacts, andwherein the space between the artifacts is filled with insulation.
 12. Amember as defined in claim 1 in which the gap between the first andsecond components of the member is filled with a fiber-reinforced,polymeric insulation.
 13. A member as defined in claim 1 which has anaperture through at least one of the first and second member componentsand the third of the member components and wherein a rigid bushing is soinstalled in said aperture with a lip of the rigid member abutting asurface of the member as to enhance the rigidity of the member and toavoid damage to artifacts passed through or in the aperture.
 14. Amethod of manufacturing a member capable of blocking the transfer ofheat and vibrations from a first to a second side of the member, saidmethod comprising the steps of: arranging an assembly of first andsecond, conductive components in side-by-side relation with a gapbetween complementary surfaces of said first and second components; andbonding an insulation material capable of inhibiting the transfer ofheat to between said components in gap spanning relationship to thefirst and second components to form a thermal break between said firstand second components and to form a unitary assembly of said componentsand the insulation material.
 15. A method as defined in claim 14 whichthe insulation material is adhesively bonded to said components.
 16. Amethod as defined in claim 14 in which the insulation material is afiber reinforced polypropylene.
 17. A method as defined in claim 14 inwhich the configuration of at least one of said first and secondcomponents is altered after the insulation material is bonded to saidmembers.
 18. A method as defined in claim 17 in which the configurationsof the first and second components are so altered that the member has aweb and integral flanges at opposite sides of the web.
 19. A method asdefined in claim 14 in which a fire retardant is applied to at least onesurface of the assembly.
 20. A method as defined in claim 14 in whichthe assembly of conductive components and insulation material is splitlengthwise into segments to facilitate the winding up of the assembly ona rewind roll.
 21. A method as defined in claim 14 in which at least oneof the first and second conductive components has through apertureswhich lighten the member and inhibit the transfer of heat and vibrationsbetween said components.
 22. A method as defined in claim 14 in whichthe first and second components are first preheated, in which first afilm of adhesive and then the insulation material are applied to saidcomponents, and in which the resulting assemblage of first and secondcomponents and insulating material is then cooled to set a polymericcomponent of the insulating material.
 23. A method as defined in claim22 in which the adhesive and insulation material are applied to firstand second, opposite sides of the first/second conductive components.24. A method as defined in claim 14 in which an aperture is formedthrough the assemblage of first and second metallic member andinsulation material and in which a flanged bushing is thereafterinstalled in the aperture to protect the structural integrity of themember and to prevent damage to components in or passed through theaperture.
 25. A member as defined in claim 1 in which a fire retardantis incorporated in the material from which the third component of themember is formed.
 26. A member as defined in claim 1 in which the gapbetween the first and second components is filled with the material fromwhich the third component is fabricated.
 27. A member as defined inclaim 1 in which the third component has an H-shaped spanwiseconfiguration, an edge of one of the first and second members beingencapsulated by first and second legs of the H, an opposite edge of theother of the first and second members being encapsulated by third andfourth legs of the H. and the gap between the first and second memberbeing filled with the material in the cross bar of the H.
 28. Astructural member as defined in claim 27 in which openings are soprovided in those segments of the first and of the first and secondstructural member components that they are filled with the material fromwhich the third component is formed as to bond the first/second andthird/fourth legs of the materials together and thereby securely anchorsaid legs together and to the first and second structural membercomponents.
 29. A structural member as defined in claim 1 in which thethird component comprises: a polymeric foam filling the gap between thefirst and second structural member components and, on first and second,opposite sides of both the first and second components, materialcomprised of a fiber reinforced polymer.
 30. A structural member asdefined in claim 1 having apertures in apposite marginal edges of thefirst and second components of the structural member to accommodate theflow of the third component material insulation material promoting abond between layers of the material on opposite sides of the structuralcomponents, and anchoring the insulation material to the first andsecond components of the member.
 32. A member as defined in claim 31 inwhich there are at least two rows of apertures in the marginal edge ofat least one of the member components, the apertures in said rows beingso staggered as to lengthen thermally conductive spanwise paths throughsegments of the member(s) in which the apertures are formed, therebyimpeding the transfer of heat between inner and outer faces of themember.
 33. A method as defined in claim 14 in which the thermal thirdcomponent material is bonded to only one side of the structural membercomponents.
 34. a member as defined in claim 1 in which there is aninsulation material in said gap that is different from the material ofwhich said third component is fabricated.
 35. A member as defined inclaim 1 which has a plug of an insulating material in the gap betweenthe conductive components of the member.
 36. A member as defined inclaim 34 in which the insulation between the first and second artifactsis composed of one or more batts or other modules of the insulation.